Objectives listed

THE European Commission said this week its major objectives for the rural development policy are improving the competitiveness of farming and forestry, environment and land management, and improving quality of life and diversification.

It is proposed to increase EU funding, to a total of €13.7 billion per year from 2007 to 2013.

Member States and regions will have more freedom as to how to implement the programmes, according to the Commission, which expected no firm decisions on the new policy at this week’s Council of agriculture ministers meeting.